That person is Peter Chisnall, who has coached both Corowa-Rutherglen and Yarrawonga and starred in North Melbourne’s first ever premiership, in 1975, under coach Ron Barassi.
“I have great memories. There’s not only great rivalry, there are great friendships – Robert Tait, Noel Long, ‘Wally’ (Glenn Brear) from Yarrawonga as examples,” he told the Yarrawonga Chronicle.
“I have enormous respect for Noel Long, as a player and coach. We were both butchers. Robert Tait is one of the icons of the Ovens and Murray League – not just with football but netball too. Glenn Brear was not going to see Yarrawonga get well beaten anymore.
“And I loved seeing all my teammates at the 50-year reunion of Corowa premiership last year. It was particularly good to see Johnny Clancy there because sadly he passed away soon after.”
Chisnall is looking forward to Saturday’s game, making the trip from Numurkah because he’s a big fan of the Ovens and Murray, and has a healthy respect for both the Roos and the Pigeons.
“I believe Corowa-Rutherglen will be a strength in the O and M again and that Yarrawonga will remain strong,” he said.
“I like what I see and hear about both clubs. You can certainly see Marc Almond improving Corowa-Rutherglen and I know that the system Yarrawonga has works.
That success comes about when clubs develop their youth and include some experience. Chisnall loves to see juniors improve and it’s particularly evident when youngsters go from age 17 to 20 and becoming a 250-game player with the club.
“Supporters should be patient with youngsters. Patience gives some awful beltings but also provides premierships,” he said.
Over the past four years, Chisnall has taken on a new role with the Victorian State Government’s Justice Department.
He is a supervisor for persons undertaking correction orders, often those from jail or youth detention centres, in respect of community work; sometimes supervising the work of 10 youngsters at a time.
“I’m passionate about it because if we can develop the youth we’re all the better for it. Some just need a pat on the back. We talk about things – what’s happening in their life, what they hope to achieve.
“We talk about sport, training programs and looking on the positive side, rather than the negative.”
Chisnall became involved in this field of work because the son of a friend of his was in jail. “I thought ‘we’ve got to be better than this’. It’s no good getting older and saying ‘that bloke’s no good’. That former inmate is ‘as good as gold now’ according to Chisnall.
Seventy-year-old Chisnall played for the North Melbourne Football Club from 1968 to 1970, during the struggling years for the club. However, he came back in 1974 and played an important role as a wingman.
In the 1975 Grand Final against Hawthorn he accumulated 16 kicks, 2 marks and 6 handballs: a total of 24 possessions.
A loyal North Melbourne player during his career, he was one of North Melbourne Football Club supporters favourite players, who played a total of 80 games for the club, both during the struggling years and the successful years.
During his football career at North Melbourne Football Club, he balanced his football career with his occupation as a butcher.
He described Ron Barassi as “a special man” and relished the opportunity to be at The Barassi Line.
“This is most appropriate,” Chisnall said of the name. “He was a most influential person as far as our game goes.”
For this Saturday’s clash, he wishes both clubs well and looks to seeing both teams in action at the John Foord Oval, and to catching up with plenty of friends from both clubs.
